For Dmitri Shostakovich, his Fifth Symphony really was a matter of life and death. Written in Stalin’s USSR, the orchestra describe the piece as “music on the edge – a shout of defiance in a time of terror, and one of the most powerful and personal statements in all of 20th century music”.

The work is in contrast to the romance of Rachmaninov’s hugely popular piano concerto – played by the young American star George Li – and Glinka’s sparkling overture.

The season continues on Friday, February 2, with a concert called Carnival in Prague featuring works by Dvo ák and Hummel, while further nights in 2018 are dedicated to The Young Mozart and Tchaikovsky. The season ends on May 9 with a concert including works by Wagner and Verdi.